Parables of Wisdom
Story of Yashodhara
यशोधर की कथा · યશોધરની કથા
A rooster made of flour, and the long road it led to
- 5 min full story
- 2 min children's telling
- Best shared with a grown-up
A king plans a great sacrifice of animals, and two young monks are brought before him. One of them tells the king a story from his own past lives, about a rooster that was never alive and the long journey that followed from harming it.
What it teaches Ahimsa Intention Karma and rebirth Compassion
The opening of the children's telling
Long ago a king named Maridatta wanted to hurt many animals as an offering. He had gathered goats and birds and many other creatures.
Two young monks, a brother and sister, were brought before the king. They were not afraid at all. Their faces were calm and kind. Why are you not afraid? the king asked.
Read the whole story See plans
To carry into the day
Ahimsa begins in the heart, before it ever reaches the hands.
To talk about together
The rooster was only made of flour. Why do you think pretending to hurt it still mattered so much?
Retold for JainStory from the traditional narrative and checked against published Jain sources. Details vary between tellings.